Dear Colleague,

On March 13, 2006, you will have an opportunity to voice your concerns about today’s medical system in the halls of Capitol Hill. At the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) student/resident Lobby Day in Washington, DC, hundreds of students, residents, and fellows will descend on Capitol Hill to lobby for issues that have an impact on hundreds of patients and physicians. The day begins with an educational session on the important medical issues of the day and continues with meetings with the legislative officials of various senators and members of Congress. It is an exceptional, once-a-year opportunity to make a difference about the issues surrounding organized medicine as well as to take an active role in the process.

So Why Is Lobby Day Important?
Lobby Day is important for three main reasons:

First, it is an educational venue that presents each resident and fellow the opportunity to become aware of current legislation that has a significant impact on physicians and their patients. Residents are often too busy to learn about the issues that affect thousands of physicians and millions of patients. Lobby Day is the one chance for residents to learn about these issues and bring the main learning points back to their colleagues in their home institutions.

Second, it reinforces the importance of public health and health policy issues to members of Congress, who shape the domestic agenda. For example, medical liability reform has a profound impact on patients and the care that is provided to them by available physicians. In addition, the cuts in the Medicare reimbursement scale are resulting in significant reductions in the number of new Medicare patients that physicians accept. A recent survey found that if payments are cut in 2006, 38% of physicians plan to decrease the number of new Medicare patients they accept, and 34% of physicians who serve a rural patient population will discontinue rural outreach services.¹ The involvement of young physicians in legislative issues emphasizes to our government that our health care system needs to be improved today.

Finally, Lobby Day increases the unified voice of residents and fellows around the country. This day will allow physicians in postgraduate training to demonstrate their passion to medical students, attending physicians, politicians, and legislative staff. By doing so, they will increase the importance given to issues that affect all young physicians.

How Can Residents Have an Impact during Lobby Day?
On Lobby Day, residents and fellows will begin their morning with an educational session that is designed to introduce them to today’s important health policy issues. In 2006, the issues that are likely to be discussed include medical liability and Medicare physician payment reform. Other issues on the AMA advocacy agenda include expanding coverage for the uninsured and improving public health programs.

Residents will be going to individual legislators’ offices and discussing these issues with congressional aides. There is usually a healthy discussion on why these issues are important, how certain policies can benefit both patients and physicians, and each legislator’s position on the issue. Don’t ever be discouraged by skeptical remarks; a legislative aide can be swayed by passionate arguments with solid supporting data. The AMA’s Political Action Committee (AMPAC) does a great job in orienting residents to these issues and providing key facts that can bolster the presentations given to lawmakers by residents. Residents and fellows often walk away from these lobby sessions with a clearer understanding of how health policy is determined and how our efforts can actually shape today’s health care system.

How Will My Participation Benefit Me as a Young Physician?
In addition to gaining the educational experience of lobbying on Capitol Hill, the day will provide intangible benefits, such as being able to network with other involved residents. In the past, this has led to collaborative projects among local hospitals and policy projects that were later implemented in outlying communities. Some previous participants have personally met with Congress members one-on-one for more than an hour discussing medical policy that could directly affect many of their patients.

Do not underestimate the personal impact of physicians—legislators place a high value on educated and prepared constituents who are passionate about specific issues. These sessions have previously led to congressional fellowships, paid consultant work, and residents have even gained invitations to important political events. One previous participant even turned the AMA’s Lobby Day into an opportunity to draft a health care plan for a 2004 presidential candidate! As a young physician, the doors that may open by participating in a single day in Washington, DC, cannot be measured.

What to Do
As events develop, be sure to keep abreast of pending federal legislation pertinent to organized medicine by signing on to the AMA’s Grassroots Network at www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/12776.html. And on March 13, 2006, become a real part of organized medicine. To help you in that endeavor, AMPAC will provide lodging to all AMPAC members at the Hotel Washington on Sunday night, March 12. If not already a member, you can easily sign up for your 2006 AMPAC membership at www.ampaconline.org. The time to make a difference is now. Come help protect the future of health care for physicians and patients across America.

Sunny Ramchandani, MD, MPH Chair-Elect

American Medical Association- Resident and Fellow Section

Reference
1. American Medical Association. Medicare phy­si­cian payments: the facts. Available at www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/399/nac_ppfacts.pdf

American Medical Association
Resident and Fellow Section
2005-2006 Governing Council

Joe Craft III, MD, Chair
Sunny Ramchandani, MD,
MPH, Chair-Elect
Kelly Caverzagie, MD, Vice Chair
Douglas Che Miller, MD, Secretary
David Rosman, MD, Delegate
Adam Levine, MD, Alternate Delegate
Alexander Llanos, MD, Member- at-Large
Michelle Nichols, MD, Member-at- Large
Samantha Cramoy, MD, Resident Trustee
Julie Snelling, Director
Department of Resident and Fellow Services

“Code Blue” is prepared by the Resident and Fellow Section of the AMA. Unless specifically indicated, its articles and opinions do not necessarily reflect the policy of the AMA or the opinions of the editors or the publisher of Resident & Staff Physician. This news­letter is contained in Resident & Staff Physician solely as a service to residents.

The journal is not in any way involved in deciding the content of “Code Blue.” All questions, suggestions, or requests for additional information should be sent to the AMA Department of Resident and Fellow Services, 515 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60610, or phone 312/464-4751. The Amer­ican Medical Association–Resident and Fellow Section (AMA-RFS) is this nation’s strongest voice for residents and their patients. Visit our Web page at www.ama-assn.org/go/rfs. To join or renew your membership, call the AMA-RFS at 800/AMA-3211.